Automatic door



G. D. HALL AUTOMATIC DOOR June 24, 1930.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1929 x i I J v w a mm m m T .D A 0 m ,Y Z L w.

' June -24, 1930. G. D. HALL AUTOMATIC 'DpoR Filed June 19-, 1929 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a ri- E IZI/IIIDITMMLM Iii .ii? :3 g M J41 f M J5 J9 J2 060/765 0- AZZZVTOR June 24,1930. (5. D. HALL, v 1,76 8

AUTOMATIC DOOR Filed June 19, 1929 I 5 Sheets-Sheet s IN V EN TOR. PEflIfiiE 0. HALL of th de ice- Patented June 24, 1930 GEORGE nAvIs' rALL, O KEABNEY, NEBRASKA AUTOMATIC 'IDOOB,

Application no Julie 19,

This invention ap pertg insjt'o a novel door opening'and closing device and hasfor one of its primary objects the provision of; means actuated by it persons'weight on a platform oneither side of the door for sliding the door to a fully open position, the, door'heing automatically returned to its' clos'ed position when the Weight of the person is, removed from the platform. i i

Another important object ofn j invention is the provision of door slidably'js pported by a suitabletrack with a novel hinge operatively connected to the door and door time, with an electric motor. actuated. mechanism for spreading the leaves vof the h nge for moving thedoor to its closed position, the

' cirouit through the motor being controlled bye platform operate-d switch, the hinge jbedng automaticallyreturned to its closed positioni for sliding the door to its normal position byspring means Whe nthe ,circilit through the motor is opened.

'- A further salient ob ect of theinvention is the provision ofonovel means for felonv structing the hinge'and for connecting the hingeto thedoor and door frame, whereby the door can he slid to en Topen and closed ipositionin an. arcuate path, thereby eliminating the necessity of sliding thedooir inii i tm ght line and permitting the usefp s ding vdoors in vestib iles and other confined places 1 J i 1 :A further object of my inve,nti0n -is ithe p fio i icm o ove means f b ak ng the circuit through the operating motor forithe hinge when the door; reaches-its fu ly opened position irrespective of Whether thezperson s on the pletzfor r or not, thereby. preyenting 'iIllUI'y' th motor and t oper ting parts A till u ther obie l f t ye ion to provide an improved dooiuopening and closing mechanism of the abOVecharaoter,

which will be durable and eflicient'in ,use,

5 one that will be simple and easy tomanu-tacture,;a1 d one Which- 2 n he laced uponthe' market and; inoorporated v th door otfe reasonable Cost. f 1

With these endother inyentiOll consists in the noveliiconstri ction,

' insectionf;

opelii g rThe, rear cornerv of the] door is V 1 engages the track bi fi in fl w-th f v inge-like ew rs- Qindud esf hee a d 1929.- s en ai ;No,. 372,1 5.

' arr'gii ge iient 5 and formz tionjof parts, as

he hereinafter morefspecifically described, .claimejchlandillustreted in the accompanying draiwingsfln which drawings 'i Figure-l is affront elevationof ai door Sh wing lllYilliPfOVBQl z pplizinceffconnected F therewith;thecontrolfplotformheiiig shown 1 k FighreQ is a yertieal section through the doorend doorfreine taken onlthe line 2%2' of Figure lloolring iiithe directionof the .nrrows showing" the operating mechai ism in Side elevatioil; '1 r Figure 3' is a top plan View ofthe im proved deviceflhe Wall being Sh wn in hori-l 'zont-alseotion, the traok ft'onthedoor being shown broken away and ins'ection T Eigure 4; is, alongitlidinel seetionthrou gh V the platform illustrating. the circuit closer for the motor inoorporated therewith;

Fi'g i'e 5 jis a lperspective; View ofjthe operating mechanismshowii g the-device in its operated positiohtoi moving the door to its fully open position; v r i 1 i e f FiguI'e'G is' a vertical section showing a {slightly modified form offc'ontrol latform.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference .iohareoters designate correspondinglparts. throughout the se ra vi ws, Jtheletter IA generally indif- .cetes e building provided with angular r'elated Walls 10'zirid ill, the w illfll) being provided with the door opening 5, B, the door for. the} opening, my improved 1mechaiilslm for opening andclosing the door.' 1 The dooi B eziiihe of any preferred oh'ar- .s iitobleisi opoiftingltmck 12 G llr ed by the wells 10 -a 1,d 11fv above the door 0 i provided witli Wheeled-bracket: 13 jiriountod in the track; While opposite jcor wr 1? th e 'i f p e v y im 1 t P- erating mechanism eswill be' lziter described.

Th 'spiirt 0t h fdj r whichi s s'upPQ d by; pert; of/the', operating mechanism is provided with :i guide roller 1Q which also outer leaves 21 and 22 which have their forward or inner ends connected by a king bolt 23. The leaf 21 includes upper and lower straps 24 which are held in spaced relation by brace bars or straps 25. The outer ends ofthe straps 24 are angled as at 26 and are pivotally secured by means of a pivot pin or bolt 27 to a supporting bracket 28 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the door frame or wall directly above the door opening and adjacent to the rear edge of the door B. The outer ends of the upper and lower straps 29 which constitute a part of the leaf 22 are pivotally connected by means of a pin or elongated bolt 30 to a supporting bracket 31. The lower end of the bracket 31 is offset inwardly and extends below the door opening and is rigidly connected, by

means of bolts or the like, to the door B as at 32 adjacent to the inner end thereof and this bracket in effect supports the inner edge of the door. The straps 29 of the link 22 are held in a spaced relation and are braced by means of straps or brace bars 33. In

. order to further aid in supporting the door,

the lower straps 29'have bolted or'otherwise secured thereto a depending arm 34 which is likewise rockably mounted on the lower end of the pivot bolt 30 and rests upon a pivot ear 35 forming a part of the bracket 31. The straps 29 adjacent to the point of connection thereof with the pivot bolt 23 are angled inwardlyas at 36, as can be clearly seen from the drawings.

The upper straps 24 of the link 21 have bolted or otherwise secured'thereto an electric motor 37 of the desired horsepower and the motor has keyed to its armature shaft a beveled pinion 38 which meshes at all times with a relatively large beveled pinion 39 rotatably mounted upon a stub shaft. 40 secured to theupperstrap 24 of the link 21. This beveled gear 39 has eccentrically secured'thereto a pitman rod 41 which is in turn rockably connected as at 42 to the upper strap '29 of the link 22, for a purpose which will be now described. v I

Presumingthe door B is closed, as shown in full lines in Figure 3 ofthe drawings, the pitman rod 41 will have its inner end adjacent to the-motor 37 and the links 21 and-22 will be in their collapsed'position, as shown. WVhen the circuit through the motor 37 is closed, the gear 39 will be rotated. causing an outward thrust on the pitm an rod ,41 which will in turn push out on the link or hinge leaf 22 thus moving the door to its open position'and carryingthe door around the curved track 12. As soon as the circuit 21and 22 will be automatically returned to their collapsed position and the door to its closed position by means of a relatively heavy coil sprilng 43 which isplaced about the king bolt 23 with its opposite ends engaging the leaves 21 and 22. This spring is normally under tension and as the leaves are moved to their spread position the spring is further tensioned so that when the circuit is opened through the motor the spring will immediately function to return the leaves to their normal position. In order to further aid in the swinging of the leaves to their normal position, the pivot bolt 27 has coiled about the same a relatively heavy coil spring 44 which has its opposite ends engaging respectively the link 21 and the supporting bracket 28.

I have provided novel means for closing the circuit through the motor 37 and this means comprises platforms or approaches and 51 arranged on opposite sides of the door opening and ISO arrange these platforms that the same will be depressed when a person stands upon the same. Each one of the platforms may be made of sheet metal and arranged within a suitable pressed metal casing 52. In buildings underconstruction, this sheet metal casing '52 can be countersunk within the floor 53 of the building I) and in buildings already built-the platforms 52 can be secured to the upper face of the floor and in this instance I prefer to incline'the outer'faces of the casing as at 54 to facilitate the passage: of persons'or trucks over the platforms or approaches. As shown, the inner edge of the platform 50 is offset as at 55 and supports the inner edge of the platform 51. The opposite edges of the platforms 50 and 51 can rest upon supporting strips 56 and'the inner edges of the platforms are normally held in a raised position by relatively heavy leaf springs 57 which will flex under weight. An angle iron strip 58 isemployed for. limiting the" downward swinging movement of the inner edges of the platforms 50 and'51' as shown. A resilientc ontact strip 59 is carried by the casing 52 and is adapted to be engaged by a contact strip 60, which is insulated from the platform 51, when the platforms are depressed. In accordance with this invention feed and return wires 62 and 63' are provided which are connected with a suitable source of electricenergy and the wire 63 has interposed therein the electric motor '37 and this wire 63 is connected to the resilient contact 59. The wire 62 is electrically .connectedwith the'contact strip and thus when the platforms are depressed under weight the circuit'will be closed through the motor consequently bringing about the opening of the door," as heretobefore del scribed. is broken through themotor 37 the leaves I 'prefer to provide means for breaking the circuitthrough the motor 37 when the normally'engaged contacts 66. The door B without the necessity of the user employing his hands for any operation incident to the opening and closing of the door at all.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but: hat, I claim as new is: I r 1. The combination with a wall having a door opening and a sliding door for said opening, of means for opening sald door comprising a hinge member including laterally extending leaves pivotally connected together andto thedoor and Wall respectively, a wheel rotatably'mounted on one leaf, a pitman eccentrically'connected to the wheel and pivotally connected to the other leaf, and means for actuating the wheel.

2. The combination with a wall having a door opening and a sliding door for said opening, of a door opening and closing mechanism comprising a hinge member in--- eluding laterally extending leaves pivotall connected together and to the door and wall respectively, spring means normally holding the leaves in a collapsed position and the door in its closed position, and means for opening the door against the tension of said spring means including a wheel rotatablymounted on one leaf, a pitman eccentrically connected to the wheel and pivotally connected to the other leaf, and means for actuating the wheel.

3. The combination with a wall having'a door opening and a sliding door for said opening, of a door opening and closing mechanism comprising a hinge member including a pair of leaves hingedly connected together and pivotallyconnected to the door and wall respectively, a gear rotatablymounted on one leaf, a pitman rod eccentrically connected to the gear and pivotally connected to the other leaf, an electric motor for operating the gear, and spring means normally holding theleaves in a collapsed position and the door in a closed position.

4:; The combination with a wall having a door opening and a sliding door for said opening, of a door opening and closing mechamsm comprising a hinge member mclud-mg laterally extending leaves'pivotally connect ed together and to the door and wall respectively, spring means normally holding the leaves in their collapsed, position and the door in its closed position, means for opeir mg the door against the tension of said spring means including an electric motor secured to one leaf, a' bevel'edgear rotatably mounted on the same leaf, a pinion keyed to the armature shaft of the motorand meshing with said beveled geanand a pitman eccena trically connected to-the beveled gear and pivotallyconnected to the otherleaf.

5. The combination with a wall having a door opening anda sliding door for said opening,of a door opening and closing mechanism comprising a hingemelnber including leaves hingedl-y connected togethenand to the door-and. Wall respectively and projecting normally laterally. therefrom, spring means normally tending tocollapse the leaves and hold the door. in a closed position, means for-opening the door and spreading said leaves including a wheel rotatably carried by one leaf, a pitman eccentrically connected to the wheel and. pivotally connected to the other leaf, an electric motor carried-by the first leaf and operatively connected to said wheel, and. means for closing the circuit throu'glrthe motor including platform operated switches arranged on opposite: sides of the door opening.

'6. The-combination with a wan having a door opening and a sliding door for said opening, ofa door opening and closing mechanism comprising a hinge member includmg leaves hmgedly connected together and 'to the door-and wallrespectively and pro- Ljecting normally laterally therefroimspring means normally tending to. collapse the *leaves and hold the door ina closed position,means for openingthe door and spreadmg said leaves includinga wheel rotatably carried by onei'leaf, a pitman .eccentrically connected tovthe wheel and pivotally connected to the other leaf,' an' electric motor carried by the first leaf and 'operatively connected to said wheel, means for closingfthe circuit throughi the motor includingplat form operated switches arranged onoppollO sitesides of the door opening, and means for breaking thecircuit-through the motor when the door has reached its fully openposition including a switch inthe motor circuit and means for opening the switchincluding a trip carried by said door. r

7. In a sliding door opening and closing mechanism, a hinge member including a pair of leaves hingedly connected together-and to the door and, door frame, means normally holding theleaves in a collapsed position and means for spreading said leaves including a pitman rod hingedly connected to one leaf and means carried by the other leaf for actuating the pitman. V r

8.. The combination with a wall having a door opening and-a sliding'door for said opening, of a door opening and closing mechanism including a bracket, rigidly connected to the wall above the door opening and in advance of the door when in its normally closed position, a bracket secured to the door adjacent to the rear edge thereof, a hinge member including a pair of leaves, one of said leaves being hingedly connected to the bracket on the door, theother leaf having its inner end angled and extending over the first leaf and hingedly connected to the bracket carried by said wall, means hingedly connecting the leaves together, spring means normally holding the leaves in a collapsed position and the door in its closed position, and'mea ns for spreading said leaves including a beveled gear rotatably carried by the leaf hingedly connected: to the wall bracket, a pitman eccentrically connected to the beveled gear and pivotally connectedto the other leaf, an electric motor, and a pinion connected to the armature shaft of the motor and meshing with the beveled gear.

9. The'eomb'ination with a wall having a door opening and'a track above the door opening, of a sliding door for the opening having a wheeled brackiet carried by the inner end of the door and slidably mounted in v the track and a roller guide carried by the rear edge of the door engaging the track,;of a door opening and closing mechanism supporting the rear edge of the door including a hinge member having a pair of leaves pivotally connected together and to the rear edge of the door and the wallrespectively, spring means normally tending to collapse the said leaves, and means for spreading said leaves including a wheel rotatably mounted on'one leaf, a pitman rod eccentrically secured to the wheel and pivotally connected to the other leaf, an electric motor for operating the wheel, and means for closing the circuit through the motor including platform operated switchesarranged on opposite sides of the door'. Y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

V GEORGE DAVIS HALL. 

